Evaluating Dale Sveum after this ugly 2012 season won't be easy, especially after the new regime traded Ryan Dempster and Paul Maholm while losing Matt Garza to injury, replacing them with starters who weren't ready for prime time.

But on Sunday, a few hours before the Cubs dodged the 100-loss mark with a 7-2 win over the Diamondbacks, Garza said Sveum made the season tolerable after the miserable season under Mike Quade.